Despite our problems, we in North America are
blessed with strong and vibrant intellectual institutions. Particularly in
mathematics and the physical sciences, we are flush with good fortune. But
success can become a breeding ground for complacency and tunnel vision; there
are other countries and communities that have created powerful and successful
mathematical and scientific institutions using vastly different formulas than
have we. It is in our interests as scientists and educators to find, understand
and connect with such communities. This is not so simple as collecting
textbooks or hiring faculty. Rather we must understand deeply what makes these
scientific communities work, and then adapt that information to improve our own
institutions. Robust international programs in science and mathematics,
programs that are discipline based and intellectually rigorous, programs that
attract our best and our brightest can serve this role.